Torpedo-launching apparatus.



D. R. BATTLES.

TDRPEDO LAUNCHING APPARATUS.

PPLICATION flLED FEB. 24| 1916.

Patented May 23,1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l- D. R. BATTLES. TORPEDO LAUNCHNG APPARATUS.

APPLnc/mon FILED ri. 24. 1916.

Patented May 23,1916.

' 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

31A/vanto@ @$13k @Mito/Mms El n DETTE TES; mur orion,

DONALD R. BATTLCES, OF NEW LONDON, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO ELECTRIC BOAT COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

TORPEDO-LAUNCI-IING APPARATUS.

To all 'wim-m it may concern Be it known that I, DONALD R. BATTLES, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New London, in the county of New London and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Torpedo-Laimching Apparatus; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description ofthe invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.k Y

In launching an automobile torpedo under water from a boat moving at an angle to the direction in which the torpedo tube is trained, the water current tends to cause the torpedo to bind in the tube as it issues therefrom. Therefore, in submerged torpedo tubes adapted for broadside discharge from a warship or from the deck of a submarine boat, the practice heretofore followed involves mounting the tube on a pivot about which the tube may turn with the water current as the torpedo issues, thus relieving the binding` tendency above referred to. Also, this pivot is arranged centrally of the tube so that the water pressure on the portions of the tube on opposite sides of the aXis'of theJ pivot is substantially balanced and produces no effective turning moment until the torpedo starts to issue in being dis charged. A training mechanism is provided for turning the tube about its pivot, but it is preferable to have this training mechanism so arranged that the free turning movement of the tube, while the torpedo is being discharged therefrom, does not turn the training mechanism. Such a construction permits of the use of worm gearing in the training mechanism whereby the ratio of reduction desirable for hand operation is secured. It has therefore been proposed to provide a slip clutch between the tube andthe training mechanism, and the friction between the clutch members is so adjusted that the turning effort to which the tube is subjected by the training mechanism is not suflicient to produce slipping, whereas the turning effort due to the unbalanced water pressure on opposite sides of the pivotal axis of the tube during dis- Specication of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 24, 1916.

Patented May 23, 1916.

Serial No. 80,135.

charge of the torpedo is sufficient to effect a slipping movement of the clutch members when one of those members is locked against rotation by the worm gearing.

The present invention relates to an organization of this character and involves the provision of automatic means for actuating the clutch members whereby they will be held in engagement to prevent relative movement thereof while the tube is being trained but will be automatically disengaged when the firing mechanism of the tube is actuated, so that when the torpedo is issuing from the tube, the latter will be free to turn under the influence of the unbalanced water pressure. The automatic release of the clutch is preferably effected directly by the firing mechanism; for instance, when compressed air is employed for effecting the discharge of the torpedo from the tube, the admission of the compressed air to the tube may also be made to effect an automatic release of the clutch; or, if desired, the release of the clutch may be effected electrically or in any other suitable manner, it being essential only that the release be effected automatically and as an incident of the firing of the torpedo so that the training mechanism will be positively connected to the tube until the torpedo is fired but will be disengaged therefrom so as to allow the tube to turn freely when the torpedo is issuing from the tube.

The preferred embodiment of the invention, involving the use of pneumatic means for eecting the release of the clutch, is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is an elevation, partly in section, showing the central portion of the torpedo and the training mechanism therefor; F ig. 2 is an enlarged View of the friction clutch and the air valve therefor; and Fig. 3 is a bottom view of the trunk pivot of the torpedo tube and the piping connections thereon.

rThe torpedo tube l, adapted to discharge an automobile torpedo of the well known kind, is arranged on the deck 2 of a submarine boat and is mounted on a turntable 3 supported on rollers 4L arranged on a circular track 5. The trunk pivot 6 forms a part of the turntable 3 and depends cen- `trally therefrom. This pivot is located substantially midway between the ends of the torpedo-tube, and thus when the boat is under way and the tube is submerged, the pressure of the water equalizes on the two ends of the tube so that there is no unbalanced moment sufficient to turn the tube from any position of rest until such time as the torpedo during discharge starts to issue from the tube.

The trunk pivot passes through the water-tight bearing 7 into the interior of the boat and is associated therein with suitable training mechanism, which may be operated by hand or otherwise and which is adapted to turn the tube to aim the torpedo at any desired mark. The training mechanism illustrated includes a worm-wheel 8 fast to a shaped ring 9, and a worm 10 engaging with the worm-wheel and provided with a training handle 11.

The shaped ring 9 loosely embraces the trunk pivot 6 and forms one member of a friction clutch interposed between the training mechanism and the torpedo tube. A complementary shaped ring 12 embraces the trunk pivot and is arranged to move axially along the exterior of the latter but is keyed thereto so that the ring 12 and the trunkpivot turn together in all positions of ring 12 axially oit the trunk-pivot. A tubular annulus 13, preferably of rubber and of rectangular cross-section as shown best in Fig. 2, forms a pneumatic, expansible operating device for actuating the friction clutch. This annulus 13 is received in and sustained in position by a supporting channel 14 mounted on the pivot 6 below rings 9 andV 12. The arrangement of these parts is such that when the tube is moved in azimuth by the training mechanism, the ex-V pansible annulus 13 is inflated and the ring 13 thereby raised so that the beveled surfaces of the two clutch members 9 and 12 are locked in engagement against slipping of one relatively of the other; and immediately on launching the torpedo, the expansible annulus 13 is connected to the atmosphere so that it becomes deiiated and ring 12 moves downward away from ring 9 an amount suticient to permit ring 12 and the pivot 6 to turn independently of ring 9 and the training mechanism without undue :l'riction. Thus I interpose between the training mechanism and the tube what I term a positively releasable clutch, such that the of the slipping of the clutch members. This change in the operation of the clutch members is eiected automatically and simultaneously with the/discharge of theA torpedo. Preferably, the two operations are directly associated so thatthe release of the clutch occurs as a direct result of operation of the torpedo-launching mechanism.

In the construction shown on the drawings a suitable source of supply of compressed air under low pressure, say 100 lbs., is connected to pipes 26 and 27, said source being normally out of communication with the pipe 27 due to the presence and normal set of the firing-valve 28 (and due also in some cases to certain other valves not here necessary to mention). The pipe 27 communicates through pipes 3,6, 31 and 29 with valve devices mounted within two housings 25? and 25h, and when the iringvalve 28 is opened to admit compressed air to pipe 27 the valve devices in the housings 25 and 25b are actuated to open the passage through a conduit 15 by which air under high pressure, say 200 lbs., is carried to a pipe 24 leading to the torpedo tube. Conduit 15 is connecteddirectlyto the high pressure air-line of the boat so that the instant iiring-valve 28 is Vopened to actuate the valve devices whereby pipe 15 is controlled, the high pressure air iiows through pipes 15 and 24 to the torpedo tube.

The means employed for opening the conduit 15 for the flow of compressed air'to the torpedo tubeare made to control the operation of the clutch consisting of the members 9 and 12. A valve-housing 33 (Fig. 2) is supported by and depends from the lower face of the pivot 6. A pipe 19 leads from conduit l5 and opens into passages 20 formed in a cylinder 22 set within the housing 23. Cylinder 22 has a piston valve 16 mounted therein and undercupped to receive one end of a coiled spring 17, the other end of which takes about a stem on a cap 34. The cylinder 22 is also provided with passages 21 and 23. Passages 21 open into a pipe 18 communicating with the interior of the annulus 13. Passages 23 communicate with the atmosphere by way of ports 37. The strength of spring 17 is such that normally it maintains the'piston-'valve 16 in the position illustrated. In this posi-k tion, the air admitted to pipe 19 from conduit 15 flows through passagesV 2O and 21 and pipe 18 to the annulus and maintains the annulus inflated so that training-handle 11 controls the rotation of the pivot 6. The piston-valve 16 is depressed against the ten sion of spring 17 when air enters the upper.`

The pressure of' the air admitted through pipe 19 upon the piston-valve 16 balances that valve so that the compressed air admitted through pipe 3G forces the piston-valve downwardly against the tension of spring 17. When the piston-valve 16 is so depressed the upper piston-valve closes passages 20 and the lower piston, uncovering the passages 23, places the pipe 18 in communication with the atmosphere; thus opening the firing-valve to effect the discharge of a torpedo from the tube operates the piston-valve 16 so as to permit the air in the annulus 13 to be exhausted to the atmosphere through pipe 18 and ports 21 and 23, and the annulus 13 becomes contracted and permits the clutch member 12 to move downwardly and out of hard engagement with the clutch member 9. It will thus be seen that normally the clutch members 9 and l2 are held in engagement so that the tube may be turned about its pivotal aXis by manipulation of the training mechanism but the operation of discharging the torpedo from the tube effected by opening the firing-valve causes an automatic release of the clutch by which the training mechanism is connected to the pivot of the torpedo tube so that while the torpedo is issuing from the tube the clutch members are out of engagement and the tube may be turned on its pivot by the unbalanced water pressure on the tube.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. The combination with a pivoted torpedo tube, and training mechanism for turning the tube on its pivot, of a positively releasable clutch interposed between the tube and the training mechanism.

2. The combination with a pivoted torpedo tube, and training mechanism for turning the tube on its pivot, of a pressure-controlled positively releasable friction clutch interposed between the tube and the training mechanism.

3. The combination with a pivoted torpedo tube, and training mechanism for turning the tube on its pivot, of a friction clutch interposed between the tube and the training mechanism, and an expansible `device effective upon expansion to hold the clutch members in engagement and effective upon contraction to release the clutch members for free slipping movements.

4. rlhe combination with a pivoted tor pedo tube, and worm gearing for turning the tube on its pivot, of a positively releasable clutch interposed between the tube and the worm gearing.

5. The combination with a pivoted torpedo tube adapted to contain a torpedo, training mechanism for turning the tube on its pivot, and firing mechanism for discharging the torpedo from the tube, of mechanism which is associated with the firing mechanism and which positively releases the training mechanism from the tube when the firing mechanism is actuated to discharge the torpedo.

A6. The combination of a pivoted torpedo tube, training mechanism for turning the tube on its pivot and means for automati cally disconnecting the training mechanism from the tube when a torpedo is discharged from the tube.

7. The combination of a pivoted torpedo tube, training mechanism for turning the tube on its pivot, a clutch mechanism for connecting the training mechanism to the pivot of the tube and means for actuating the clutch mechanism to release the tube from the training mechanism lwhen a torpedo is discharged from the tube.

8. The combination of a pivoted torpedo tube having a depending pivot, training mechanism for turning the torpedo tube including a gear loosely mounted on the depending pivot, a friction member coperating with said gear and fastened on the pivot, and means for holding the friction member and gear in engagement to connect the latter with the pivot of the tube, and for releasing the friction member from engagement with the gear to permit free relative movement thereof.

9. The combination of a pivoted torpedo tube, training mechanism for turning the tube on its pivot, an air-controlled friction clutch interposed between the tube and the training mechanism, and an air-valve rendering the air effective and ineffective on the clutch.

10. The combination of a pivoted torpedo tube adapted to contain a torpedo, training mechanism for turning the tube on its pivot, iiring mechanism for discharging the tor pedo from the tube, a friction clutch inter posed between the tube and the training mechanism, an expansible device efective upon expansion to hold the clutch members in engagement against slipping and effective upon contraction to release the clutch members for free slipping movement, and an airvalve cooperating with the firing mechanism to release the clutch when the firing mechanism is actuated to discharge the torpedo.

11. The combination of a pivoted torpedo tube, training mechanism for turning the tube on its pivot, a. first airline normally open, a second air-line normally closed but adapted when open to fire a torpedo from the tube, a friction clutch interposed between the tube and the training mechanism, an eX- pansible device effective upon expansion to hold the clutch members in engagement and upon contraction to release the clutch members for free slipping movement, a valve casing having a first port in communication with the first air-line and a second port in Communication with the interior of said eX- pansble device and having also a thrd port n communication with the second air-line and a fourth port n communication with the atmosphere, u Valve in said casing normally uncovering the rst and second ports and Covering the fourth port, and means for opening the second air-line so that air will be fed therefrom through the third port to 10 cause the valve to close said rst port and open said fourth port.

In testimony whereof I aHX my signature.

DONALD R. BATTLES.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patenti,

' Washington, D. C. 

